OLIVE HILL, Ky. (WSAZ) -- Local leaders along with Gov. Steve Beshear celebrated the straightening and widening of “Rock Crusher Curve” in Carter County during a dedication ceremony Monday morning.

The $12 million road project runs nearly a mile and half along U.S. 60 between Olive Hill and Interstate 64. The section included “Rock Crusher Curve”, a horseshoe bend that skirted a rock quarry.

The infamous curve was familiar territory for emergency responders, who could count on a serious crash about once a month, said Jim Webb, chairman of the county ambulance board.

“Now, a call surprises us,” he said. “The improvements made out there have been a blessing – a true blessing.”

“As a little girl, I traveled ‘Rock Crusher Curve’ with my mother and former Governor Wendell Ford and often heard their discussion on the need for remediation. I am thrilled to have accomplished this remediation in my legislative tenure,” said Sen. Robin Webb, of Grayson.

In addition to eliminating “Rock Crusher Curve”, the project corrected numerous “sight distance” hazards between I-64 and KY 1025, just east of Olive Hill.

The KY 1025 intersection, which leads to West Carter High School, was rebuilt to eliminate an S-curve.

A center turn lane was added in certain sections to help prevent or reduce backed-up traffic, and a new, 500-foot bridge was constructed over Tygarts Creek.